Electric coin-freed apparatus.



No. 627,736. Patented June 27, I899.

' J. H. F KRULL.

ELECTRIC COIN FREED APPARATUS.

(Applicatiun filed Jan. 17, 1899.) (No Modal.) 3 Sheets$haet I.

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4 lllll I 61 him G k No. 627,736. Patented June 27,1899.

' J. H. F. KRULL.

ELECTRIC COIN FREED APPARATUS.

' (Application filed Jan. 17,1899.) (No Model.) 3 SheatsSheet 2.

No. 627,736. Patented June 27, -1899. J. H. F. KRULE.

ELECTRIC COIN FREED APPARATUS.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1899.)

w: "cums PETERS co Puma umo. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES-Y 1 P T NT rFIc-E.

JOHANN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH K or HAMBURG, GERMANY.

ELECTRlCCOlN-FREED' APPARATUS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 627,736, dated June27, 1899;

7 Application filed .Tanua ryl'7, 1899. Serial No. 702,439. (No modelj)To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OI-IANN HElNRICH FRIEDRICH KRULL, a subject of theGerman Emperor, and a resident of Hamburg, in the German Empire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Coin- Y FreedApparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relatesto an electrically-acthe apparatus in its passagethrough the same closes first one and then the other of the two pathsfor the on rrent, which are arranged upon or around the saidelectromagnets in opposite directions. The poles of the armaturetherefore invariably maintain the same, position,

iary. circuits.

whereas the electromagnets' alternate their poles while the apparatus isoperating in such a manner that the electromagnets have the same pole inthe ends lying in the same directions-that is to say, the upper andlower;

endsand in consequence of the alternate closing and breaking of the twopaths for the current their polarity alternates always at the Owing tosame time and in the same sense. this alternation of theelectromagnet-poles while the armature-poles remain unaltered themovement or oscillation of thearmature is produced, while when theapparatus is not in u sethat is to say, when no current is passingthrough the same-the remanent magnetism insures that the armature shallbear firmly against one of the 'electromagnet-cores, and

consequently that the apparatus shall be in readiness for immediate use.The regulationthat is to say,'the closing and breaking of the circuitssurrounding the electromagnets formed by'means of the introduction ofthe coin--takes place by means of two electric relays inserted insuitable accessory or auxil- The making and breaking of the accessorycircuits and the actuation of the relays is effected by means of asuitable con tact making device, which is likewise actuated by theoscillation of the armature.

In the accompanying drawings an electrical automatic railway or similarticket-delivery apparatus arranged in accordance with this invention isillustrated by way of example.

Figure l-is a vertical section through the apparatus. Fig. Zillustrats'the suspension of the armature.- Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of theslide for delivering the object sold, which is operated by the armature.Fig. 5 illustrates a portion of the apparatus as shown in Fig.1, theelectromagnets, the armature, and its suspension being omitted in orderthat the arrangement of the relays may be more clearly shown. Fig. 6 isa diagrammatic representation of the apparatus, showing more especiallythe electrical connections. Fig. 7 shows a somewhat modified form of thedelivering apparatus, being provided at the same time with a suitablestamping apparatus. Fig. 8 is a right-hand end view of the apparatus asshown in Fig. 7.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral figures.

In a suitable casing A the two electromagnets (1 and I), having betweenthem a post 0, are arranged. At. the upper portion of this post isarranged a spindle c, which carries an arm 0 provided with an arc-shapedarmature d, capable of oscillating between the two electromagnets a andb, so that 'it is in contact either with the electromagnet a or with theelectromagnet b. Upon one end of the spindle c" is provided a lever e,to which a suitably-shaped slide 2 is attached by means of anintermediate link 6. This slide works in asuitable guide e in such amanner that in its displacement from the position illustrated in Fig. 3to that shown in Fig.4 it pushes the undermost ticket of a pile oftickets K, arranged in a box S, out through the opening of theapparatus. The lower extremity of the lever e is furnished with a springcontact-maker g, which is capable, by means of two contact-pieces g andg arranged upon the bottom A of the apparatus, of closing the circuit atpredetermined times, as is hereinafter explained. Upon the otherextremity of the spindle c is arranged an arm f, which carries a platef, entering a slot h in the partition II. This plate'fserves, after theposition of the armature has been reversed,

loo

to block the admission opening 1' or passage 11, for the coin, so thatwhile the slide 6 is delivering a ticket which has been paid for a freshcoin cannot enter the passage Z.

Upon the partition H, Fig. 5, are arranged two relays, consisting of theelectromagnets Z and 'm and the armature-levers Z and mtheretobelonging. Theselatterare furnished with projections Z and 111?,which extend into the passage 7; through suitable slots in the partitionH-that is to say, into the path of the coin M. The armature-levers,which are pressed down by springs Z m rest upon contact-screws Z on. Acoin M falling in the passage 1," is therefore first of all arrested bythe projection Z so that it rests upon a plate a and forms an electricalconnection between the parts Z and n, the object of which will behereinafter explained. It the armature-lever is lifted by itselectromagnet Z, the circuit is broken and the released coin is able toproceed along the passage t" until it is again stopped by the projectionm so as to again form the circuit by connecting the armaturelever m anda second contact-plate 0. Interruption of the current again takes placeby the rise of the armature-lever m, whereupon the released coin is ableto fall into a suitable receptacle. (Not shown in the drawings.)

The electrical connection and arrangement of the various parts areclearly shown in Fig. 6. The wire 19, coming from the source ofelectricityfor instance, a battery Qfirst passes around the armature d.It then passes downward and around the cores of the electromagnets a andb, and finally connects with the armature-lever Z. Between the armatured and the electromagnets a b there branches off from the wire 1) a wire13', which is wound around the cores of the electromagnets a and bin theopposite direction and passes to the armature-lever m. From the otherpole of the source of electricity a conductor q proceeds to thecontact-piece n and a conductor q to the contact-piece 0. In addition tothis two wires 1' and .9 lead from the source of electricity Q, passaround the electromagnets Z m, and proceed to the contactpiecesgg',respectively. Oorrespondingconductors r and s (which in practice arereplaced by a single wire) connect the other side of the source ofelectricity with the lever e, carrying the contact-spring g.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: A coin M introduced intothe admissionslot't'first of all forms an electrical connection betweenthe lever Z and the plate 41.. The circuit 19 q is thereby closed, thusproducing by means of the excitation of the electrom agnets a and b analternation in the poles of the electromagnet-cores, so that theremanent north polarity of or at the upper portion of the cores ischanged into sou th polarity. The south magnetism now present in theupper ends of the electromagnet-cores causes the armature d, thepolarity of which does not change owing to the fact that the currentalways passes through it in one and the same direction, to oscillatetoward the left hand and upon the electromagnet a. Owing to theoscillatory motion of the armature d the blocking-slide f moves underthe admission-aperturelt', while the lever e swings to the right handand by means of the slide 6 linked thereto pushes the ticket to bedelivered through the delivery-aperture It, the contactspring g slidingbeyond the contact-piece 9. When the lever e has reached the end of itstravel in the right-hand direction, it comes into cont-act with thecontact-piece g and thereby closes the auxiliary circuit r r for theelectromaguet Z. Through the influence of the electromagnet Z thearmature-lever Z is raised for the purpose of breaking the circuit 19 q,and thus releasing the coin M. This coin on being released proceedsalongthe passage t" and, retained between the armature-lever m and the plate0, closes the circuit 19 p q. The current thus caused to flow around theelectromagnets inthe opposite direction to that in which it previouslypassed again produces a change of polarity in the electromagnets, andthe north magnetism now presentin the upper ends of theelectromagnet-cores produces a backward swing of the armature (Z towardthe right hand onto the electromagnet (2. Owing to this reversal of thepositions of the armature d and lever 6, respectively, the auxiliarycircuit vr r is interrupted, the stop f moves back and opens the passage2', and at the same time the delivery-slide e" is drawn back toward theleft hand by means of the oscillation of the lever e in the samedirection. Upon its passage towardthe left hand the lever, for example,sliding upon the contact-piece g closes the second auxiliary circuit 8s, which excites the electrom'agnet m with the object of attracting thearmaturelever m. Owing to the rise of the armaturelever m the circnitppq is again interrupted and the coin released, leaving it free totraverse the remainder of the passage 2" and fall into thecoin-receptacle. Shortly before the lever 6 reaches the end of itsoscillationi. e., its left-hand end position the spring 9 slides off thecontact-piece g, thereby again interrupting the auxiliary circuit 3 5.When the armature d has attained the extremity of its right-hand traveland the lever c the extremity of its left-hand travel, Figs. 1 and G,the whole of the circuits in the apparatus are interrupted or opened.The electric current is thus present in the apparatus only during thetime in which the coin introduced into it is closing the circuits, andconsequently the electromagnet-cores a b and the armature (Z are onlymagnetized for this short period. As, however, it is necessary that theapparatus should always be in a condition for immediate use, Fig.1--that is to say, the armature cZ must always rest firmly against therighthand electromagnet Z) during the time the apparatus is notoperating, admitting of no movements or oscillations of the armature (Zas a result of shaking or other shocksthe armature should be made ofsteel, so that the remanent magnetism may hold the armature d firmlyagainst the core of the electromagnet I) also when no current is passingthrough the apparatus.

For the purpose of stamping the tickets or the like as they aredelivered a suitable stamping apparatus may be connected with thedelivery apparatus in any appropriate manner and may also beelectrically operated, if so desired.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown an electrically-operated stampingapparatus in connection with the delivery apparatus, the latter showingsome modifications. In this delivery apparatus the arrangement is suchthat-the armature d somewhat modified in its shape or form, does notrest against or upon the electromagnet h during the time the apparatusis not operating, but upon the electromagnet a. The contact-plates g gfor the auxiliary circuits of the electric relays, Figs.

1 and 6, are replaced in this case by suitable mercury contact devices Gand G the construction of which is well known and whichessentially'consists of mercury-columnst and I t, with which areconnected the wires sand '1", respectively, and of yielding orspringactuated contact-pins u and u, with which are in electricalconnection the wires 8 and r, respectively. By" bringing the contactpinsu and u in contact with their mercurycolumnst or t the correspondingauxiliary circuits 5 s and rr will be closed. The alternate closing ofthe contact devices G G is efiected by the oscillating movement of thearmature d or its shaft 0, respectively. For this purpose there areattached to the rocking shaft 0' or the lever 6, respectively, two arms1; 1), preferably made of one piece. 1 These arms '0 v are provided withprojecting parts to and w, which when the armature d oscillates impingeupon the contact-pins u a, j thereby causing the latter against thepressure of their springs to dip alternately into;

the mercury-columns and to close the corresponding auxiliary circuits.The projecting part 10 is hinged at 10 to the arm '0 and is under theinfluence of a spring 10 which latter is stronger than the spring actingupon f the contact-pin a, so that the lever 10 is able to press or movethe contact-pin 1t downward as soon as the lever to strikes or actsupon, the said contact-pin u. Shortly before the armature d reaches itsleft-hand end position or position of rest, Fig. 7, the project-' ingpart to strikes against a stop m, which causes the former to turn upwardinto the position shown in Fig. 7 and to release the contact-pin. Thethus freed contact-pin is then raised by its spring in order to breakthe circuit 3 s for the purpose already explained. The stampingapparatus is composed of an electromagnet 1, attached to the casing A,and of an armature-lever 2, pivoted; at. 3 also to the said casing or tothe ticket{ box S, connected therewith. Thelever 2 carries the roller orblock 4, having upon its surface the letters, numbers, or like figuresto be impressed in or stamped on the tickets to be delivered. The ticket7a to be delivered first. is held underneath the letter-block 4 by meansof the suitably-shaped slide 6 the free edge of which rests upon across-piece 6 provided between the guide-pieces e of the slide-e Fig. 7.Between the stamping-block 4 and the slide 6 or the ticket 70, supportedby it, may be provided a color band or strip 5. This color-strip,leading from the roller 6 ,to the roller 7, is passed over suitableguide.- rollers 8 8. Attached to the roller 7 is a ratchet-wheel 9, withwhich works a pawl 10,

pivoted to the lever 2 and acted upon by a spring 11. By means of thesaid ratchet device, operated by the oscillations of the stampinglever2, the color-strip .5 is gradually'wound upon the roller 7that is tosay, it is fed along bysteps underneath the stamping-block, so that thelatter when pressed down onto the ticket to make the required stampingwill act always on fresh parts of the said color-strip. 1 I Theelectromagnet 1, operating the armaturelever 2, may be placed in anysuitable cireuit 12 13. The closing of this circuit 12 13 may beeffected by the insertion of a coin M into the coin-slot 'i orcoin-passage t". In Fig. 7 I have shown such switch device by way ofexample. 14: is a double-armed lever capable of being turned on itspivot 15. The upper end or arm of the lever 14 projects into the passage1l'i. 6., into the path of the coin--while the other or lower armcarries a block or plate 16, having a recess or notch 17, into whichenter the spring-contact tongues 18 19, as shown by Fig. 7. Thecontacttongues 18 19 are connected with the wires 1 z 14 isreversed,whereby the tongue 19 is drawn toward the tongue 18 in order toclose the circuit 12 13 and to excite the electromagnet 1. Owing to thisexcitation the lever'2 is attracted and stamps, by means of itsdownwardly-pressed block or roller etand the colorstrip 5, respectively,the ticket k, properly held and supported by the slide 6. After the coininserted has passed the lever 14 the switch device 19 18 16 14automatically breaks or opens the circuit 12 13, whereupon the releasedarmatu re-lever 2 effects in well-known manner by means of its pawl 10 aforward rotation of the ratchet-roller 7 9 and a forward feeding ofthecolor band or strip 5. As soon as the circuit 1) q, Fig. 6, is closedby the coinproceeding along the passage the polarity of theelectromagnets a b is altered andthe armature d caused to oscillatetoward the right and upon the electromagnetb in the same but reversedmanner, as already described when explaining the action of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1. In consequence of the oscillation of the armature d thelever e, and with it the slide 6 swings to the left hand, whereby thestamped ticket k, resting upon the said slide 6 is stripped ofi by thelowermost ticket of the pile K and thus caused to fall down through theopening betweenthe guides e and cross-piece 6 The backward swing of thearmature d eifected by another change of the polarity in theelectromagnets ab, (as fully explained above,) causes the lever e toswing to the right hand and to push or carry forward by means of itsslide e another ticket k of the pile K, which ticket is 1. In apparatussuch as described, a carrier for the object to be delivered, a pair ofelectromagnets having coils wound in opposite directions, an oscillatingarmature having its coil wound in one direction, said armature operatingsaid carrier, a main electric circuit including the armature-coil andone of the coils of each of the electromagnets,circuit-closing devices,comprising a fixed and a movable contact interposed in said circuit,abranch from said main circuit including the second coil of eachelectromagnet, and circuit-closing devices comprising likewise a movableand a fixed contact interposed in said branch circuit; of a coin-guidefor guiding a coin first to the main-circuit contacts, then to thebranch-circuit contacts to successively close said circuits through saidcoin, and means operated by the aforesaid armature for obstructing thecoin-guideway in advance of the main-circuit contacts, for the purposeset forth.

2. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, a pair of electromagnets having coils wound in oppositedirections, anoscillating armature having its coil Wound in onedirection, said armature operating said carrier, amain electric circuitincluding the armature-coil and one of the coils of each of saidelectromagnets, circuitclosing devices comprising a fixed and a movablecontact interposed in said circuit, a branch from the latter circuitincluding the second coil of each of the electromagnets, andcircuit-closing devices likewisecomprising a movable and a fixed contactinterposed in said branch circuit; in combination with a coin-guide forguiding a coin first to the contacts in the main circuit, then to theconthe oscillations of the armature for successively displacing themovable contacts and: thereby releasing the coin, for the purpose setforth.

3. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, a pair of electromagnets having coils wound in oppositedirections, an oscillating armature having its coil wound in onedirection, said armature operating said carrier, a main electric circuitincluding the armature-coil and one of the coils of each of theelectromagnets, circuitclosing devices comprising a fixed and a movablecontact interposed in said circuit, a branch from the latter circuitincluding the second coil of each of the electromagnets, andcircuit-closing devices likewise comprisinga movable and a fixed contactinterposed in said branch circuit; in combination with a coin-guide forguiding a coin first to the contacts in the main circuit, then to thecontacts in the branch circuit to close said circuits successivelythrough the coin, a stop on the movable contact of each pair of suchoperating to prevent the coin from moving out of contact therewith, anelectromagnet for each of the aforesaid movable contacts, auxiliarycircuits including said electromagnets, and a circuit-closer controlledby the movements of the armature to first close the auxiliary circuitthrough the electromagnet for the movable contact in the main circuitafter said circuit has been closed, and then close the circuit throughthe electromagnet for the movable contact in the branch circuit aftersaid circuit has been closed, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, electrically controlled appliances for operating saidcarrier, a suitable electric cirfiuit including saidappliances,circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed and a movablecontact interposed in said circuit, and a coin-guide for guiding a cointo said contacts; of electrically-operated stamping devices, a suitableelectric circuit including said devices, a circuit-closer comprisingafixed contact and a cooperating movable contact interposed in saidcircuit, said movable contact in the path of a coin moving along theaforesaid coin-guideway, whereby the last-named movable contact is movedto its fixed contact to close such circuit, for the purpose set forth.

5. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, electrically-controlled appliances for operating saidcarrier, a suitable electric circuit including said appliances,circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed and a movable contactinterposed in said circuit, and a coin-guide for guiding a coin to saidcontacts; of stamping devices for stamping the article on the carrier,consisting of an electromagnet, a two-armed rock-lever armature carryinga stamp on one of its arms, an electric circuit including saidelectromagnet, a circuit-closer consisting of a fixed and a movablecontact normally held apart, said movable contact in the path of a coinmoving along the aforesaid coin-guide, whereby said movable contact ismoved to the fixed contact to close the electric circuit, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

6. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, electrically-controlled appliances for operating saidcarrier, a suitable electric circuit-including said appliances,circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed and a movable contactinterposed in said circuit, and a coin-guide for guiding a coin to saidcontacts; of stamping devices for stamping the article on the carrier,consisting of an electromagnet, a two-armed rock-lever armature carryinga stamp on one of its arms, an electric circuit including saidelectromagnet, a circuit-closer consisting of a fixed and a movablecontact normally held apart, said movable contact in the path of a coinmoving along the aforesaid coin-guide, whereby said movable contact ismoved to the fixed contact to close the electric circuit, and anink-ribbon having motion over the printingface=of the stamp, andribbon-feeding devices operated by the aforesaid armature-lever to feedthe ribbon alongat each closure of the electric circuit, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

7. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, a rock-shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate thesame, a radial arm on said shaft, a segmental armature secured to saidarm and having its coil wound in one direction, a pairof electromagnetshaving coils wound in opposite directions, a main electric circuitincluding the armature-coil and. one-of the coils of each electromagnet,circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed and a movable contactinterposed in said main circuit, abranch from the latter circuitincluding the second coil of each of the aforesaid electromagnets, andcircuitclosingdevices comprising likewise a fixed and a movable contactinterposed in said branch circuit; in combination with a coinguide forguiding a coin first to the contacts in the main circuit, then to thecontacts in the branch circuit and therethrough close said circuitssuccessively, for the purpose set forth.

8. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, a rock-shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate thesame, a radial arm on said shaft, a segmental armature secured to saidarm, the coil of which armature is wound in one direction, a pair ofelectromagnets having coils wound in opposite directions, a mainelectric circuit including the armature-coil and one of the coils ofeach electromagnet, circuitclosing devices comprising a fixed and amovable contact interposed in said main circuit, a branch from said maincircuit including the other coil ofeach of said electromagnets, andcircuit-closing devices comprising likewise a fixed and a movablecontact interposed in said branch circuit; in combination with acoin-guide for guiding a coin first to the main-circuit contacts, thento the branch-cirprojection adapted to obstruct the coin-guideway inadvance of the main-circuit contacts when the aforesaid shaft is rockedin one direction by the closure of said circuit, for the purpose setforth.

9. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, a rock-shaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate thesame, means for feeding the objects to the carrier one at a time whensaid carrier is moved in one direction, a radial arm on the rock-shaft,asegmental armature secured to said arm and having its coil wound in onedirection, a pair of electromagnets having coils wound in oppositedirections, a main electriccircuit including the armature-coil and oneof the coils of each electromagnet, circuit-closing devices comprising afixed and a movable contact interposed in said main circuit, a branchfromthe latter circuit including the second coil of each of theaforesaid electromagnets, and circuit-closing devices comprisinglikewise a fixed and a movable contact interposed in each branchcircuit; in combination with a coin-guide for guiding a coin first tothe contacts in the main circuit, then to the contacts in the branchcircuit and therethrough close said circuits successively,for thepurpose set forth;

10. In apparatus such as described, a carrier for the object to bedelivered, a rockshaft connected with said carrier to reciprocate thesame, a radial arm on said shaft, a segmental armature secured to saidarm and having its coil wound in one direction, a pair of electromagnetshaving coils wound in opposite directions, a main electric circuit,including the armature-coil and one of the coils of each electromagnet,circuit-closing devices comprising a fixed and a movable contactinterposed in said circuit, a branch from the main circuit including theother coil of each of said electromagnets, circuit-closing devicescomprising likewise a fixed and a movable contact interposed in saidbranch circuit, a coin-guide for guiding a coin firstlto the maincircuitcontacts, then to the branch-circuit contacts to successively close saidcircuits through such coin, and stop devices operating to prevent thecoin from moving clear of the aforementioned contacts; of anelectromagnet for each of the described movable contacts, auxiliarycircuits including said electromagnets, and circuit closing devicescomprisinga contact in each of said circuits and a contact-levercooperating therewith, said lever secured to the aforementionedrockshaft and rocking synchronously with the armature on said shaft, forthe purpose set forth. g

JOHANN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH KRULL.

Witnesses:

MAX LEMOKE, WILHELM SAHN.

IIO

